*EC: OSHA & Worker Safety: Glovesick: Hospital gloves are vulnerable to permeation, punctures, and other risks; here’s how to keep health care workers safe[®] [REF: IC, RN, SFT] EC News, July 2014, Vol 17, #7, Pg 5 JCe1407_B7

Gloves are a mainstay of personal protective equipment (PPE), but in order to receive their full protective benefits, the following potential failures and their causes need to be kept in mind:

•  Permeation – Using the wrong type or thickness of glove can allow certain chemicals, drugs, disinfectants, etc. to actually come through the glove.
•  Penetration – punctures from long fingernails, jewelry and rips/tears from improper donning
•  Degradation –  donning gloves with lotion or wet hand sanitizer, weakening from improper or too lengthy storage,

On page 6 there is a useful table that lists 6 of the commonly used glove materials, along with the pros and cons of their use (e.g., latex is vulnerable to organic solvents and vinyl is vulnerable to alcohol). Page 7 contains a sidebar on glove ‘Do’s (e.g., put gloves on last when putting on PPE ) and Don’ts (e,g., wearing a glove(s) for prolonged periods of time ).
Tip: IC should review the written procedures for use of PPE as required by EC.02.02.01, EP3 and evaluate the appropriateness of glove types/materials being used by various staff in IC-risk related areas.